This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary.
Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11.
The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above.
St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

SL

Amazing information offered, more than what I could ask for at NO cost. Well instructed course with a wealth of knowledge to attain.

CM

May 06, 2018

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Great and interesting course for the theologian, philosopher,

De la lección

Modern Origins Debate

Every course on Science & Religion deals with the fascinating topic of the modern origins debate. The 5 most important views of the origin of the universe and life are presented in detail— Young Earth Creation, Progressive Creation, Evolutionary Creation, Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological Evolution. The importance of scientific and historical concordism for each position is explained. We also explore the challenging topic of whether or not Adam was a real person in history by presenting the 4 best-known positions on human origins—De Novo Creation of Adam, Evolutionary Monogenism, Punctiliar Polygenism, and Gradual Polygenism. These different approaches to Adam are viewed in the light of the Apostle Paul’s letters in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 and St. Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin.

Impartido por:

Denis Lamoureux

Associate Professor

Transcripción

Episode 183. We also need to consider the Western, that is, the Catholic and Protestant theological tradition on human origins. The reason for this is because theological tradition defines the foundational beliefs that Christians continue to accept today. As I've mentioned a number of times in this course, St. Augustine is often considered to be the most important theologian in Christianity. Like nearly everyone at the beginning of the fifth century, he accepts that Adam is historical. Augustine was also one of the main formulators of the doctrine of original sin, which has two foundational beliefs. Original sin refers to: number one, the first sin ever committed by the first man, who was Adam. This doctrine also includes the belief that sin transferred from Adam to all humans. In this way, St. Augustine believed that all humans descend from Adam. In other words, Augustine accepted monogenism. It's necessary to emphasize that the doctrine of original sin and a historical Adam appear in the most important Christian creeds. For example, it's in the Council of Carthage the Catholic Church, the Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran Church, the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Church, and the Westminster Confession of the Presbyterian Church. Supplementary Quotes Two to Five offer passages from these four creeds, revealing the importance of the historical Adam. Another important factor that shapes St. Augustine's belief in original sin is that he accepts the one-seed theory, in other words, preformatism. In Quote Five, Augustine writes in his famed book 'City of God', when of the first couple, that is Adam and Eve, were punished by the judgment of God, the whole human race which was to become Adam's posterity, through the first woman, was present in the first man. Augustine's belief in the one-seed theory and its connection to original sin is even more explicit in Quote Six. Writes Augustine, "God, the author of all natures but not of their defects, created man good, but man corrupted by choice and condemned by Justice, has produced a progeny that is both corrupt and condemned for we all existed in that one man." He's talking about Adam here. "Since taken together we were the one man who fell into sin, our Nature was already present in the seed from which we were to spring." In other words, when Adam sinned, the seeds of future humans also became corrupt and sinful. And this is how original sin gets passed down to every generation. By the middle of the 20th century, the theory of evolution is being seen as a very credible theory on human origins. And the Catholic Church, is one of the first Christian traditions to deal with it directly. Pope Pius the 12th, in 1915, writes an article entitled -- Humani Generis, which is Latin for human origins. Pope Pius 12th states that it's possible to accept the evolution of the body, but God creates souls by divine intervention. In Quote Seven he states, "The teaching authority of the church does not forbid the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living material, for Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately, that is interventionist, created by God." However, Pope Pius the 12th firmly rejects polygenism because of the doctrine of original sin. In Quote Eight he states, "There is a question of another conjectural opinion namely, polygenism. The children of the church by no means enjoy such liberty, for the faithful cannot embrace that opinion which maintains either that after Adam there existed on this earth true men, who did not take their origin through natural generation from him as from the first parent of all; or that Adam represents a certain number of first parents, that is polygenism." It's clear from this passage, that a historical Adam and monogenism, is essential to this pope's argument against Polygenism. Continuing with Quote Eight, Pope Pius the 12th adds, "Now it is in no way apparent how such an opinion, that is polygenism, can be reconciled with that which the sources of revealed truth", that's the Bible. And the documents of the teaching authority of the church coming from St. Augustine, propose with regard to original sin, and here, Pius the 12th offers an excellent summary of this doctrine. Original sin number one, which proceeds from a sin actually committed by an individual, Adam. And original sin number two, which through generation is passed on to all and is in every one as his own. Before you go on to the next episode, can you think of a way to reconcile Polygenism with Scripture and Christian tradition? Does the notion of ancient science in the Bible and in the writings of St. Augustine help you? Think about this for a moment. I suspect you already have the answer. End of episode.